Lit Happens: Jury Duty, Summer Reads, & Indie Bookstore Buzz
NewPages Newsletter #185: From fresh literary magazines to courtroom musings—stay inspired with the latest in books and publishing.
Happy Monday! We hope you're staying cool this June, and a belated Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures out there. In NewPages news, you have our mid-month eLitPak newsletter to look forward to this week. You can enjoy additional submission opportunities, new book releases, and more!
📩 If this email gets cut off, click ‘View Entire Message’ at the bottom or head to Substack to read the full newsletter!
🏬 Bookstore Updates
While new specialty bookstores continue to open—like Mon Coeur in Canton, Michigan—sadly, 1977 Books in Montgomery has announced its closing. Drop by our Guide to Indie Bookstores in the US & Canada to discover more specialty and general bookstores in your state.
If we are missing and stores you love, please let us know!
📚 In Magazine News
Hole in the Head Review is back with a new editor, Mike Bove! Their comeback issue under the new leadership, Fall 2025, is slated for August 15. Stay tuned!
Club Plum Literary Journal, an online quarterly, is seeking work for the July issue. Their April 2025 issue featured work by David Henson, Amy Marques, Ben Starr, Anthony St. George, Loria Harris, Tina Barry, Lavinia Kumar, and Elisa Subin.
Latest Issues from Literary Magazines
Beat the summer heat by plunging into fresh literary magazines on the Magazine Stand.
The Common Issue 29
Issue 29 of The Common features a portfolio of photography and translated prose from Amman, Jordan, alongside short stories set in Hawai‘i, Kenya, Baton Rouge, and an Austin boxing gym. The issue also includes an essay on Cameroonian clothmaking rituals and poetry by esteemed writers like Erica Dawson, Rick Barot, and Mary Jo Salter. Teachers can access Teach The Common for curriculum support, classroom visits, and resources to enhance student engagement. The issue is available in print, Kindle, PDF, and e-book formats.
Red Tree Review Issue 5
Red Tree Review Issue Five presents a powerful collection of poetry from both seasoned and emerging voices, including Ron Riekki, Martha Zweig, and Robert S. King. These works evoke surprise, urgency, and awe, offering glimpses beyond the self. Available online, the issue continues the journal’s tradition of showcasing compelling literary artistry.
Walloon Writers Review Ninth Edition
Walloon Writers Review Ninth Edition celebrates the natural beauty of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula through short stories, poetry, and photography. With contributions from over sixty writers, the issue invites readers into reflections, adventures, and discoveries. Available at Michigan booksellers or online through independent bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon.
Come back to the literary pool to cool down later this week with an introduction to Apotheca Journal and the latest issue of Posit.
📖 Book Pick of the Week
Looking for a little history with a boozy twist? NewPages Editor Denise Hill recommends this fascinating deep dive into a forgotten cocktail.
Sue Strachan’s The Obituary Cocktail explores the cocktail’s 1940s origins at Café Lafitte, its role in mid-century New Orleans café society, and its temporary decline. The book blends history, recipes, and stories of bohemian icons like Tennessee Williams, offering a lively tribute to this absinthe-infused classic and other similarly macabre drinks.
🔍 In Review
Need new summer reads? Our book reviewers have recommendations that will captivate, challenge, and inspire.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (reviewed by Kevin Brown)
Kevin Brown’s review of The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami explores its dystopian world, where Moroccan-American Sara Hussein is detained due to a rising risk score based on personal data and dreams. The novel critiques corporate control, mass surveillance, and systemic inequalities, weaving themes of race, gender, climate crises, and economic exploitation into its gripping narrative.
Universality by Natasha Brown (reviewed by Kevin Brown)
Kevin Brown’s review of Universality by Natasha Brown examines its layered storytelling, where a chaotic party during Covid sparks a mystery explored through multiple perspectives. The novel interrogates objectivity, self-narratives, and societal myths, weaving themes of greed, power, and historical crises. Brown challenges readers to question both the characters’ truths and their own.
With My People: Life, Justice, and Activism Beyond the University by Jonathan Pulphus (reviewed by Eleanor J. Bader)
Eleanor J. Bader’s review of With My People highlights Jonathan Pulphus’s reflection on activism sparked by the Ferguson protests. His book chronicles the 13-point Clock Tower Accords at SLU, offering lessons on balancing academics and organizing. With practical guidance, Pulphus provides a strategic roadmap for student activists navigating social justice movements and institutional change.
Isabela’s Way by Barbara Stark-Nemon (reviewed by Eleanor J. Bader)
Eleanor J. Bader’s review of Isabela’s Way by Barbara Stark-Nemon highlights its gripping portrayal of the Spanish Inquisition’s brutality and the struggles of Conversos. Following 14-year-old Isabela’s escape from persecution, the novel explores resilience, resistance, and survival. Stark-Nemon weaves intrigue, historical oppression, and personal growth into a powerful indictment of injustice.
Don’t forget to come back to the blog tomorrow for a review of Sanam Mahloudji’s The Persians.
✍️Inspiration Prompt: The Only Things for Certain are Death, Taxes, and . . . Jury Duty
Some people win lotteries. Others win something... different… repeatedly. Jury duty
And then there are those who, time and time again, defy the odds in an unexpected way—by repeatedly being summoned for jury duty.
Serving on a jury is a civic duty, not necessarily a misfortune. But what are the chances that one person is selected year after year—sometimes more? Is it just statistical bad luck, or does fate have a dark sense of humor?
How does someone process the absurdity of being chosen again and again? Do they feel resignation? Outrage? A grim sense of inevitability? Or perhaps, strangely, relief that at least this one thing remains consistent?
Yet jury duty isn’t just an inconvenience—it carries real weight. The decisions made in a courtroom shape lives, sometimes forever. Does the responsibility of judging another person’s fate bring stress, anxiety, or unexpected clarity? What is it like to sit among strangers, tasked with deliberating evidence that may be incomplete or overwhelming?
If you’ve been summoned multiple times, what was your reaction?
If you’ve served on a jury, did the experience match your expectations—or did you find yourself feeling more like a defendant, scrutinized by lawyers during selection and isolated from normal life until the courtroom doors opened?
What’s the oddest or most memorable moment from your jury duty experience?
Calls, Contests, & More
Below is a small preview of this week’s 49 writing contests, calls for submissions, and literary and writing events.
Barrow Street Poetry Prize
Deadline: June 30, 2025
The 2025 Barrow Street Poetry Contest is now open for submissions, and we are absolutely thrilled to share that this year’s judge is John Murillo. Our winner will receive $1500 and publication with Barrow Street Press. An additional manuscript will also be chosen for publication as the winner of our Editors' Prize. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline is June 30, 2025. Learn more here.
HEART Poetry Award $500.00 - Deadline June 30
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Going strong since 1986! The HEART Poetry Award is open to entries of unpublished reflective modern prose poems through June 30! $10 fee to enter up to 3 poems. Winner will be awarded $500 and publication in HEART 20 (Fall/Winter 2025). This year’s judge is Grey Held. Visit Nostalgia Press to view the judge’s bio and submit.
Sky Island Journal: Issue 32 Call for Submissions
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Sky Island Journal is an independent, international, free-access literary journal publishing the finest poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction. Accomplished, well-established authors appear side-by-side with fresh, emerging voices. We provide over 150,000 readers in 154 countries with a powerful, focused, advertising-free literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Our average response time is 9 days, and every submission receives a respectful response detailing what we appreciated. We have a family of over 1,000 contributors, and writing we published won the Pushcart Prize and BOTN last year. Enjoy our previous issues for free at our website, and submit to Issue 32 before June 30th.
Slate Roof Press 2025 Elyse Wolf Prize $500
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Member-run Slate Roof Press, now in our 21st year, is pleased to announce the 2025 Elyse Wolf Prize for our annual poetry chapbook contest. The winner receives $500, becomes an active member of the press, and will have their chapbook published by Slate Roof. The runner up receives $100. We publish limited edition, art-quality chapbooks with letterpress covers. Winners make a 3-year commitment to Slate Roof, including monthly meetings, and share work responsibilities for many aspects of publishing. Submit no more than 28 pages of poetry. $10 reading fee; sliding scale available. Deadline June 30. Full guidelines at our website.
2026 Embracing Our Differences Exhibition Featuring
Deadline: July 1, 2025
Embracing Our Differences is seeking submissions for an outdoor exhibition featuring 50 billboard size images and original quotations created by local, national and international artists and writers reflecting the theme "embracing our differences." The exhibition will be on display mid-January through mid-April 2026 in two outdoor parks in Sarasota and Pinellas counties in Florida. Cash prizes totaling $10,000 will be awarded. Call is open to artists and writers of all ages. Quotation submissions must be 20 words or less. Learn more here.
International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition! Prize: $1000 and publication
Deadline: July 1, 2025 (11:59 PM EEST)
Small presses have potential for significant impact, and at Vine Leaves Press, we take this responsibility quite seriously. It is our responsibility to give marginalized groups the opportunity to establish literary legacies that feel rich and vast. Why? To sustain hope for the world to become a more loving, tolerable, and open space. It always begins with art. That is why we would love for you to enter your manuscript into the 2026 International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition! Prize: $1000 and publication in 2027. Learn more here.
North Street Book Prize
Deadline: July 1, 2025
11th year sponsored by Winning Writers. Submit self-published or hybrid-published books to win $10,000. Additional benefits for entrants and winners from our co-sponsors. $22,000 in total cash prizes. Eight categories. Any year of publication eligible. Entry fee: $85. Everyone who submits online can receive feedback from a judge at no extra charge. Deadline: July 1. Learn more at our website.
EXTENDED DEADLINE JULY 15: New American Fiction Prize
Extended Deadline: July 15, 2025
2025 New American Fiction Prize Extended Deadline: July 15, 2025. Winner receives $1500, publication, 25 copies, and promotional support. Send full-length fiction manuscripts of 100+ pages in any form—novels, novellas, story collections, flash fiction, and hybrids. Submit via our online submission manager. Omit identifying details from the manuscript file; editors read blind. Entry fee: $25. Simultaneous submissions encouraged—please notify us if accepted elsewhere. Final judge: Clancy Martin, author of How Not to Kill Yourself: A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind. More at our website.
Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize
Deadline: July 16, 2025 5PM ET
The Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize is awarded for an outstanding opening page of an unpublished novel. First prize is $1,000; 2nd is $500; and 3rd is $250. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre for adult or YA readers (fiction only). Winners will be announced August 22, 2025. Learn more here.
Submissions Open for Housatonic Book Awards
Deadline: July 18, 2025
The Housatonic Book Awards are now accepting submissions of all books published in 2024. Authors or agents are welcome to submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction manuscripts for consideration in the HBAs. All manuscripts will be reviewed by a committee and the winners will be notified in October 2025. Each award carries a $1,000 honorarium and $500 travel stipend in exchange for the author appearing at either WCSU's fall or summer writing residency. Entering a title implies the author’s willingness to attend the WCSU MFA residency to host a 2-hour workshop. We look forward to considering your work! Learn more here.
2026 Press 53 Award for Poetry
Deadline: July 31, 2025
Publication, $1,000 advance, and 53 copies will be awarded to an outstanding, unpublished poetry manuscript. If Runner-Up is also selected, publication, $500 advance, and 25 copies. Press 53 Poetry Series Editor Tom Lombardo is the only reader and judge. Prizes awarded upon publication. Deadline July 31. Winner and finalists announced by November 1. Reading fee $30. Complete information at our website.
The Coniston Prize
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Radar Poetry is now open to submissions for the 12th annual Coniston Prize, judged by Diane Seuss! The Coniston Prize recognizes an exceptional group of poems by a woman writing in English. Any poet who identifies as a woman is eligible. The winner will receive $1,000, and up to 10 finalists will be awarded $175. The winner and finalists’ poems will also be published in the prize issue. Submit 3-5 poems via Submittable with no identifying information. Entry fee $20. Deadline: August 1. Submit now.
NOMAD Review Seeks Your Work on the Theme of "Fragility"
Deadline: August 1, 2025
The NOMAD Review (formerly NOMADartx Review) curates fresh voices in creative arts and literatures. We especially love to support emerging/underrepresented creators, and to see how different forms of creation intersect in potentially unexpected ways. June 1-August 1 of 2025, we will read submissions on any theme, but our current contest seeks submissions on the theme of "fragility." One winner in each of these six categories will be selected for a $75 prize: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual arts, industry specials, and criticism/reviews/interviews. Please see our website for more detail about these categories and how to submit.
The Branches Fall 2025 Call for Submissions - VOICE
Deadline: September 13, 2025
The Branches is seeking submissions of previously unpublished written and visual work for our fall 2025 theme VOICE. We are especially interested in cultural criticism, personal essays, and book/movie discussions and also publish poetry, short fiction, art, and photography on the theme of VOICE. We recommend reading some of our previous issues (click issues on our website) to get a feel for what we publish. Give us your big ideas and small thoughts, the ways you’re interacting with and understanding the world. We love Joan Didion, C. S. Lewis, Ada Limón, Susan Sontag, Flannery O’Connor, Patti Smith, and (hopefully) you! Off-theme submissions welcome. Visit website.
Plant-Human Quarterly Seeks Poems and Essays for Upcoming Issues
Deadline: Year-round
Plant-Human Quarterly reads year-round. We seek unpublished or published poetry and essays that explore the myriad ways writers manifest their relationship to the botanical world—whether through heavily researched pieces, keen observation, or more intuitive ways of knowing—that attempt to communicate across boundaries and approach a plant’s-eye-view of the world. Send no more than 5 poems or an essay of no more than 1500 words (flash essay or essay excerpt) in a single word document. Past contributors include Ellen Bass, Forrest Gander, Kimiko Hahn, Brenda Hillman, Jane Hirshfield, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Pattiann Rogers, Scott Russell Sanders, Arthur Sze. View submission guidelines at our website.
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